'Numbing time for everyone' in wake of crash

Jarrad Blackler out on the hills with his dogs. Photo / Supplied

Community support has been lauded after a crash in the Hakataramea Valley at the weekend in which six people were thrown from a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Four people remain in hospital after being injured in the accident which occurred early on Sunday.

The conditions of the Kurow Rugby Club players and one supporter yesterday remained unchanged from Tuesday, a Canterbury police spokeswoman said.

Jarrad Ethan Blackler (23), of Danseys Pass, died on Tuesday morning in Dunedin Hospital. He never regained consciousness after the crash.

Family and friends will farewell him on Saturday and, out of respect, the Kurow and Old Boys clubs, by mutual agreement, have cancelled their Citizens Shield match, which would have been the main game in Oamaru.

''There are far greater things than a game of rugby to consider, and this decision has been made with the support of the families,'' Kurow coach Kevin Malcolm said.

''This is quite a numbing time for everyone but the community support has been great.''

Kurow players and about 20 extra supporters attended the usual Tuesday night practice, Mr Malcolm said.

''We had a plan all set for the Kurow club in 2015 and we're going to do our best to see that through.

''We have drills that are about mates ensuring they are supporting their other mates, and they are constantly communicating. That's exceptionally important to us at this time.''

Old Boys spokesman Barry Meikle said his club wanted to support Kurow any way it could.

''Out of respect for Kurow and the families who have suffered, we were willing to do whatever Kurow wanted,'' Mr Meikle said.

''We feel for Kurow immensely, and our boys are cut up about it, too. It's shaken the whole rugby community up here.''

The Waitaki Boys' High School flag was at half-mast yesterday to honour Mr Blackler, who was a pupil at the school from 2005 to 2009.

He was a perfect example of Waitaki's ''all round man'', the school wrote on its Facebook page.

In Christchurch Hospital, a 25-year-old British man remains in a critical condition with injuries from the crash.

The 39-year-old driver is in a serious but stable condition in Dunedin Hospital.

A 22-year-old woman and 22-year-old man, both of whom have undergone surgery, have moderate injuries and are in Christchurch Hospital and Burwood Hospital respectively.

A 38-year-old male passenger has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

They were injured when the seven-seater Toyota Landcruiser wagon they were in veered to the edge of the Hakataramea Valley Rd on a moderate bend near Cattle Creek, overcorrected, and then rolled several times into a paddock.